Celebrity MasterChef Australia
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | September 2009 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Television program |
| Parent | Network Ten |
Celebrity MasterChef Australia is an Australian culinary competition series and a derivative of MasterChef Australia, which itself is based on the British MasterChef. This version showcases well-known personalities facing off in cooking contests.
Production for the initial season commenced in September 2009, with the show debuting on Network Ten on 30 September 2009. The judging panel consisted of Matt Preston, George Calombaris, and Gary Mehigan, all returning from MasterChef Australia, with Calombaris and Mehigan also fulfilling hosting roles. The first season’s winner was Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan, who donated his $50,000 prize to the charity Swim Survive Stay Alive.
Following a 12-year break, a second season was greenlit and premiered on 10 October 2021. The revamped judging team featured Andy Allen (chef), Melissa Leong, and Jock Zonfrillo. This comeback aligns with Network Ten’s approach to capitalize on established competitive cooking franchises to draw viewers and strengthen their market position.
Format (2009 show)
Differing from the main series, the 2009 celebrity edition adopted a heats and semi-finals structure reminiscent of MasterChef Goes Large, broadcasting once per week in a one-hour time slot.
Contestants, grouped in trios, competed in heat rounds comprising two segments: an Invention Test requiring original dish creation, followed by a Pressure Test where they attempted to replicate a dish crafted by a professional chef. Due to the complexity of these challenges, each participant was granted one "lifeline" permitting 90 seconds of chef assistance.
From these rounds, six finalists advanced to additional challenges aimed at determining the final competitors.
Hosts and judges
| Starring | Series | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |
| Jock Zonfrillo | Template:Yes2 | |
| Melissa Leong | Template:Yes2 | |
| Andy Allen | Template:Yes2 | |
| Gary Mehigan | Template:Yes2 | |
| George Calombaris | Template:Yes2 | |
| Matt Preston | Template:Yes2 | |
Winners
| Series | Contestant | Occupation | Date Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eamon Sullivan | Olympic swimmer | 25 November 2009 |
| 2 | Nick Riewoldt | AFL player | 22 November 2021 |
Series 1 (2009)
Production of Celebrity MasterChef Australia initiated in September 2009, with episodes airing weekly over a ten-week period starting 30 September. The structure involved heats and semi-finals similar to those used in MasterChef Goes Large.
Sarah Wilson, who hosted the original MasterChef Australia, did not participate; instead, judges Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, and Matt Preston assumed hosting responsibilities. Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan emerged victorious in this season, winning $50,000 for the charity Swim Survive Stay Alive.
In February 2010, executive producer Mark Fennessy expressed skepticism regarding the likelihood of producing a second installment of this spin-off.
Series 2 (2021)
A second installment of Celebrity MasterChef Australia was greenlit on 25 May 2021, marking a return after a 12-year interval since the inaugural edition. This series was broadcast in late 2021, featuring judges Andy Allen, Melissa Leong, and Jock Zonfrillo.
On 17 June 2021, Network Ten revealed the lineup of 10 celebrity participants. The competition was ultimately won by former AFL athlete Nick Riewoldt, who earned $100,000 for the charity Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision.
Ratings
| Series | Premiere date | Finale date | Episodes | Premiere ratings |
Rank | Finale ratings (Grand final) |
Rank | Finale ratings (Winner announced) |
Rank | Series Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 September 2009 | 25 November 2009 | 10 | 1.363 | 2 | 1.297 | 1 | — | 1.187 | |
| 2 | 10 October 2021 | 22 November 2021 | 13 | 0.620 | 6 | 0.700 | 6 | 0.805 | 5 | 0.558 |